The names of Sandells and Richardson, the bondsmen on the occasion of Shakespeare's marriage, occur in this document, and it will be seen that Anne's father was no more learned than her husband's, for he signs with a mark. It seems to be very doubtful whether Anne herself could write, for no evidence of her calligraphy has been produced, and we know that one of her brothers was not versed in that science. She survived Shakespeare several years, and was buried near him in the chancel of Stratford church, on August 8th, 1623.* A brass plate on the stone which covers her remains thus pays tribute to her religious worth:

The gravestones of the Shakespeare family are in a row with this, facing the rail of the altar. That of Anne Shakespeare is immediately beneath the poet's monument; next comes the stone with the verses, "Good friend," &c., and next to that are inscriptions to the memory of Thomas Nash, who married the only daughter of Susanna Hall; Dr. John Hall, son-in-law to the dramatist; and Susanna Hall, Shakespeare's favorite daughter, in the following order:

*"1616, Apr. 25, Will. Shakspere, gent.-1623, Aug. 8, Mrs. Shakspeare." -Parish Register of Stratford.

HEERE LYETH Y BODY OF SVSANNA,

HEERE LYETH Y BODY OF JOHN HALL, HEERE RESTETH Y BODY OF THOMAS WIFE TO JOHN HALL GENT: Y. DAVGH-GENT: HEE MARR: SVSANNA, Y DAVGH NASHE, ESQ. HE MAR ELIZABETH, THE & coheire TER OF WILLIAM SHAKESPEARE, GENT: TER OF WILL: SHAKESPEARE, GENT. HER SHEE DECEASED Y 11th OF IVLY, A DECEASED NOVE 25. A 1635, AGED 60.

1649, AGED 66.

Witty above her sexe, but that's not all,
Wise to Salvation was good Mistria Hall:
Something of Shakespeare was in that, but this
Wholy of him with whom she's now in blisse.

Then, Passenger, haʼst ne're a teare,

To weepe with her that wept with all ?
That wept, yet set herself to chere

Them up with comforts cordiall.
Her love shall live, her mercy spread,
When thou ha'st ne're a teare to shed.

A

DAVG: & HEIRE OF IOHN HALLE, GENT.
HE DIED APRILL 4, A. 1647, AGED 53.

The verses on the tombstone of Mrs. Hall were obliterated many years ago to make room for an inscription on some one else, but they had fortunately been preserved by Dugdale, and have recently been judiciously restored. For this welcome service we are indebted to the taste and liberality of the Rev. W. Harness. Mrs. Hall was buried on July 16th, 1649, "July 16, Mrs. Susanna Hall widow.' At Shakespeare's death, in 1616, his family consisted of his wife, his daughter Susanna, married to Dr. Hall, his daughter Judith, married to Thomas Quiny, and Elizabeth Hall, a grand-daughter. Judith Quiny had several children, who were all dead in 1639 (p. 31), she herself living till 1662. The poet's grand-daughter, Elizabeth Hall, was married in 1626 to Thomas Nash, who died in 1647, without issue; and secondly, in 1649, to John Barnard, of Abington, co. Northampton, by whom she had no family. She died in 1670, and with her the lineal descent from Shakespeare perished. The persons who now claim to be the poet's descendants belong to the Hart family, into which Joan, Shakespeare's sister, married.

John: Barnanet:

Signatures of members of the Shakespeare family.

Susanna Hall was only tenant for life of the freehold estates under her father's will, which were strictly entailed on her male issue, with several remainders. Before many years had elapsed this property suffered the infliction of many legal fictions, the entail was barred, and the estates dispersed. The whole history of it will be correctly gathered from the documents inserted in the Appendix.

The preceding pages furnish the reader with all evidence of any importance respecting the personal history of Shakespeare that has yet been discovered, and, considering how deficient the lives of authors generally are in those striking events which most attract the notice and commemoration of contemporaries, it would not have been surprising had even less information regarding him been preserved. It has, however, been asserted we know so little of the poet's life, that his past existence is scarcely more determined than that of Homer; and this opinion has been repeated by the latest biographers. Perhaps the collection of facts here brought together will at least tend to modify this prevalent belief. The character of Shakespeare is even better substantiated than his history. We have direct and undeniable proofs that he was prudent and active in the business of life, judicious and honest, possessing great conversational talent,* universally esteemed as gentle and amiable ;† yet

* "His conversation was admir'd by some of the greatest men in his own time."-Oldys, MS. Notes to Langbaine. See p. 183.

+ Twice does Ben Jonson give testimony of this, in his Discoveries,' and in the lines prefixed to the first folio, where he says Shakespeare's "well-turned and true-filed lines" reflected his mind and manners. The following lines by a contemporary confirm these tributes:

If Pride ascende the stage, O base ascent,

Al men may see her, for nought comes thereon

But to be seene, and where Vice should be shent,
Yea, made most odious to ev'ry one

In blazing her by demonstration,

Then

298

THE LIFE OF SHAKESPEARE.

more desirous of accumulating property than increasing his reputation, and occasionally indulging in courses "irregular and wild," but not incompatible with this generic summary. It is unnecessary to repeat the various statements of early writers on this subject, for all of them have been already quoted and specially pointed out to the reader's attention. Still less requisite is it to pronounce any eulogy on the writer to whose history these pages refer, for his place in the temple of Fame is irrevocably fixed, and his works are no longer affected by praise or censure. May the shadow of that name protect the minute detail the memory of no other author would deserve!

Then Pride, that is more then most vicious,
Should there endure open damnation,
And so shee doth, for shee's most odious,
In men most base that are ambitious.

Players, I love yee, and your qualitie,
As ye are men that pass-time not abus'd:

And [W. S. R. B.] some I love for painting, poesie,
And say fell Fortune cannot be excus'd,
That hath for better uses you refus'd:

Wit, courage, good-shape, good partes, and all good,
As long as al these goods are no worse us'd;

And though the stage doth staine pure gentle bloud,
Yet generous yee are in minde and moode.

Davies' Microcosmos, 4to. 1603,